Log:Swoop Race: Jakku
Irya Banking sponsors a swoop race on Jakku.
OOC Date: November 6, 2015 (Optional)
Location: Jakku
Participants: David Ironside, Domino Graystorm, Elrych Cometburn, Lorcan, Nairi Irya, Nerys Arda, Netep Muri, Nubri, Vhe Tenara
[Nairi]
The start time is just after dawn, before the baking heat of the desert sun becomes unbearable for most sentients. The sun is low in the sky still, casting long shadows. The itinerant drunkards that gather normally at the race track have been /gently/ encouraged to drink elsewhere. The stadium has been dusted off. Coloured banners and flags adorn the stadium and a canvas awning provides shade for the spectators. A few food and drinks vendors catering to a myriad of races have set up around the entrance to the stadium seating. A few security droids patrol the crowds and a jizz band provides music. Nairi circulates among the crowds, making a point of greeting certain notable guests.
[Nubri]
Nubri is sitting in her truck, seeming pained as she watches a transmission from her datapad at the trackside... the AC in the driver's cabin went pear-shaped so instead of a nice, comfy Hoth Spring she gets... Jakku Winter. Which IS an improvement but still. Regular human degrees would have sufficed, as is the temperature in the patient's compartment but... she is on Jakku. Now, Nu wants to shield herself from this hell, and a place she would much rather be on than a desert... any icy planet "Next race, hppens on Mirial." she mutters, wiping her sweat again, drinking from a large bottle of lukewarm tea "Deserts... why is it always deserts? Why do I get the bad jobs... should have went to work at a nice hospital on Coru... Naboo." she backpedals in her monologue with herself, as she is currently alone in the truck... and may it stay that way. The red and gold truck sticks out in the desert... meaning hopefully nobody will hit her. How Ironic, to die crashing into an ambulance
[Nerys Arda]
Nerys had arrived at the race track not long before the race was set to begin, Belate rolling along beside her, chittering away as they waited beside a bike which looked, well, like any top of the line rental swoop might looked, that is to say, showing bumps and bruises and the occasional repair, with the name of the rental company slapped on with a decal onto the body. There was a bit of dust clinging to it here and there, so it was likely, one would hope, that she had ridden the bike a time or two before she made it to the stadium.
[Vhe Tenara]
Vhe is here merely for the joy of getting somewhere new that does not involve fighting or likewise saving people. A smile pulls at her lips as finds a place for herself in the stands. She notes Nerys down on the race track and the woman gets a wave and a yell. "NERYS!!!" cries the the Ysanna, her hair wild and free for the day seems larger than life itself as she drinks from a purchased drink cup.
She settles herself back down and is looking at the food vendors off to the sides. A thoughtful sound is made. "mmm now I am hungry. I want to eat everything. EVERYTHING." She insists to herself. But where to start?!
[David Ironside]
David walks away from a vendor with a large beverage in hand, jacket loosely breezing off him this morning as he walks briskly towards the stadium, hiping to find a decent spot to watch the race. Soon enough he's found it. Not in the front row, but a little behind, higher up. Decent seating, all things considered, since he's occasionally granted shade from the flags and banners as well as the awnings. Putting one foot between the seats in front of him, the pilot leans back and waits for the event to get underway.
[Elrych Cometburn]
Elrych Cometburn was making no effort to stave off any notice as to who (or what) he was. Clad in those traditional dark green Jedi Robes, the Knight walked back up the stairs of the stands towards his Companion, Vhe. He had a bucket of popped seed kernels, heavily buttered and salted of course, and wore a pair of thick rimmed and very dark solar shades. The ones he used to wear all the time but no longer did. It was a desert planet... there was a lot of sun... it was an outing. It was appropriate to break them out.
Dexterously, he scoots his way through the packed stands back to his seat next to Vhe. "I got some snacks!" He offers with that Corellian grin of his before plopping himself back down. "Is she out there?" He wonders allowed to her, having heard her yelling the name of their redheaded friend. "Oh there she is." He remarks, taking a handful of popped seed kernals and chucking them into his mouth.
[Domino]
Domino is keeping a low profile for...reasons. An Ivory scarf of linen is draped over her head and across her face with wide rimmed dark sunglasses protecting her from dust and sun as she quietly slipsw through the crowd to scope the crowds.
[Lorcan]
Lorcan being of similar skin to the endless golden land beneath could easily melt out of sight; were it not the unusual attire he bore to the race. With a light combat-zone attire painted in red, the durasteel covered Zabrak rests against a rusted, brown rental speeder bike. Equipped in the worst of the worst, the middle-aged competitor for the prize opted for the smallest expenses on his participation. Upon his waist, a helmet hung from his utility belt, allowing his scarred visage to breathe in the scorching weather.
[Netep Muri]
"Get me through this alive and I'll take extra care to polish all your rusty bits'n'crannies," Netep Muri promises in sweet'n'low tones to the 22-B Nightfalcon she's escorted to the starting line. The bike's had a rough go through life in the hands of this explorer, but it hasn't failed her yet and that's saying somethin! Her suit compliments the bike's prettier blue bits as well as it does her terribly unkempt mane of green. Wind does things to hair, as does heat, and while the beads do serve to weigh down bits here and there, they also serve as mini snags upon which to tangle unbound curls. A fitting look to serve the carefree personality of the little rider.
"Oi, Arda!" A shout to the familiar face down the line. "G'luck, min duskal! You beat me, I'll buy ya a round of the /finest/ knockback nectar in these parts..."
Which is to say: Absolute shite.
A light cackle of laughter lifts from the space gypsy's throat and she encircles her baby for a final pat-down and tugging on the straps anchoring the lil repair kit to its rear. Y'know. For the inevitable WHOOPSIE. It's never a matter of 'if' only of 'when'.
[Nairi]
It's getting close to start time. Nairi fishes out a com from a pocket in the cape of her dress and speaks into it, a brief conversation as she takes a drink from a vendor and makes her way towards the stands and begins to climb, ending up near David Ironside. She gives him a brief smile of recognition and then focuses on the race. She speaks into the com again, and soon after three hover droids carrying lights zoom into and hang in the air above the track. A brief fanfare can be heard over the stadium tannoy then the voice of the commentator booms out over the noisy crowd. "Gentle beings and sentients! Welcome to the Jakku Swoop Race! Today we will see Lorcan! Netep Muri! aaaaaand Nerys Arda!" the commentator pauses long enough for the crowd to roar its appreciation of all entrants, "vying to receive the top prize!" Another fanfare, and then the light held by the hover droids go from red... to amber... to green. The race has begun.
[Nubri]
There is a terrible noise as Nerys name is called.... the noise of the horn of a who-knows-how-heavy red and gold armoured truck "GO N!" yells the lone inhabitant, letting the engine rev just a little as the lights start shifting in it's deeper, more powerful noises. It is likely the strongest engine on the track, but most of the power goes towards propelling a heavy body able to withstand pretty much anything this planet can throw at her
[Lorcan]
"Urgh." A growl escaped the Iridonian at the sound of his name being blasted to the crowds. Then again, maybe someone'll have a job! Climbing the hunk of scrap that is more likely to get him killed than paid, Lorcan leans into what appears to be a rundown 74-Y speeder bike, or simply an illegal poor recreation of the model. Nonetheless, leaning forward and grasping the pair of handlebars, his boots shift to the pegs. With a rumble of the ol' engine, the underdog sets off ahead at the sight of green.
[Nerys Arda]
Nerys' head turned, as she heard her name called from the stands, keen eyes picking out the familiar figure waving in her direction. She raised a hand, returning the greeting to Vhe and to the other familiar figure settling into the seat beside her. "Yes, Belate, if they won't let me maglock you to the speeder so you can go for a ride, you can go sit with them and keep them company." It was like the worst unbirthday present. An overly rambunctious BB droid. Sorry about it. She grinned, though it was not visible, really, what with helmet and all, as she heard the call from Netep, "And if you win, there's a steak dinner in it at the finest restaurant on Chandrila!" She glanced to the other driver at the line, "Good luck to you both."
As the droids moved into position, so did Nerys. It was Belate she boosted up first, cramming him into the small backseat of the speeder, before she took her own place at the front of the bike. From that moment, it seemed as if it was gone in a flash, the line between waiting and racing, and the bike took off with a roar of its engine, and a quickly receding squeal of delight from the droid who was, at least for the moment, having the time of his life, his head rolling back with the force of either the wind or his own excitement. As for Nerys, her head was also down, angled to help cut the sheer force of wind breaking around the uncovered speeder.
[Domino]
Domino spots a familiae and dashing figure in the stands. Seeing Ironside here wasn't so surprising except to find him amongst spectators rather than competitors. A discrete glance about his vicinity and she wanders over and settles beside him, letting her sunglasses side down her nose to reveal her distinctive gaze, "Why, Hello stud."
[David Ironside]
David returns Nairi's greeting with a raise of his cup, only briefly taking his eyes off the emergent racers to do so. With a grin, he watches as Muri exhibits expert sportsmanship (sportswomanship?) to Nerys, who's in turn decided to weigh her bike down with a droid for some reason. It's only the droid and the call from Muri that lets the pilot identify Nerys from this distance, so it's a welcome addition, in lieu of any official announcement of the racers thus far. The truck's horn blast attracts his attention momentarily, but it's a truck at a swoop race, so David is quickly looking back to the racers.
Turning slightly, David gives the same raise of a cup to Domino. "Haven't yelled at me enough this week?" he asks cheerily, even as he makes room for the woman. It's only words, anyway.
[Elrych Cometburn]
"Wait there's only three of them?" Elrych asks just as the crowd roars and that horn noise shatters his ear drum. He winces, bringing a single finger to said ear to plug it. "Yike, what the?" He turns to look towards the Mirialan, his face falling flat. Nubri, "That explains so much..." He turns his shaded gaze back towards the tracks just as Nerys takes off. "Oh man that thing is fast. You see that?" He asks Vhe beside him just as he chucks another handful of popped kernels into his mouth. They crunch as he chews.
[Domino]
Domino snorts and mutters, "It's just nice to see a friendly face. You were right, by the way." She snorts, "Not that I deserve any better but the only reason I'm in one peice is cause I owed a merc 5k for a job and he had to retrieve me to get paid." she leans over and nudges his shoulder, "How come you're not down there? Too easy?"
[Netep Muri]
Netep, still staring in the direction of an echoing horn blast, pumps a fist in the air when her name is called. She gives a WHOOP and shoutout to the Explorer's Guild and Bebo's melons - a small sticker endorsing the produce company is battling the heat over the rear of her seat, already curling up at the corners. Just wait till that sun comes up...
Without further ado, Muri sets to work stuffing hair and cramming that helmet onto her head, then mounts the swoop. Boots slide into position over the pedals and she gives each a little flex as the bike's repulsors warm. The engines emit a low whine that deepens into a purr as the lights overhead begin to flash. Red:
"We got this"
Yellow:
"Sand is our friend."
GREEN!
Nothing happens. Any zoom-in from the hovering cam droids will show her eyes widening just slightly behind that tinted visor as the Nightfalcon makes an unholy spit-sputter-squeal of a sound, visibly vibrating in place rather than jolting her forward in tandem with the others. Muri's helmet dips just a tad in exasperation, stomps her left foot a tad harder while pressing the right, and flips a couple switches over her handlebars for good meas--OOOOH that did it!
She's off! Chasing Nerys dust and blasting up a cloud of her own with increasing speed.
[Vhe Tenara]
Glancing down at the food that Elrych is eating she reaches in to snag some before he consumes it all. Her eyes narrow and she glances up at him with a nudge of her shoulder. When he exclaims about how fast they are she grins. "That's Nerys," she proclaims cheerfully beside him. "WOOHOOOO! I have missed this. Used to do this all the time.." she starts, sobering a little but the excitement is enough to keep bittersweet memories at bay. She reaches into the bag and pulls out more, pausing as she watches while a few bounce out of her hand and she immediately laments their loss. Brief sad face crossing her lips as she mourns the food.
Her gaze slips upwards again to see if anyone has caught another or likewise fallen behind. CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH! She chews into the kernels delightfully and happily. "OH LOOK! Fruit and spun sugar!" she leans over Elrych shaking her hand at the vendor on foot. "HERE!" Food consumption is a sport too!
[Nairi]
Nairi jumps at the loud horn and almost spills her drink. Not quite. The woman leans back in her seat and relaxes slightly, the intensity of how she watches the race reduces. So far, so good. Serving droids and gambling touts begin to weave through the crowds. Nairi beckons one over, and lays a bet on Nerys then takes a sip of her drink. More hover droids appear over the stadium, holding giant displays so the spectators can follow the race as the swoop riders begin to speed out of sight.
"And Nerys is in the lead!" The Commentator yells. "I'd say Netep Muri was close behind her, but that would be WRONG! Never mind, Old Man Lorcan is doing even worse, maybe his swoop is as old as him?" The crowd laughs and roars.
The swoop track heads north toward the sinking sands, a patch of treacherous desert with pockets of sand that will swallow any sentient on foot. Safe enough for a swoop rider.... as long as they don't fall off.
[Nerys Arda]
Nerys, who was needing to work hard to keep her head down, because really, she was not a swoop racer, and make no mistake about that, took off to an early lead, her bike skimming low above the ground as she maneuvered her way around the track. And everywhere that Nerys went, the seemingly endless squeal of Belate follows along behind her, the doppler effect giving it an ever weirder sound that it already was. If nothing else, that alone might make her run memorable. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw one of her competitors speeding up and along then ahead of her and she gunned the engine, pushing the speeder for all it was worth. What was a race without some healthy competition?
[Nubri]
Nubri grins "GOO N. DON'T CRASH LORKHAN!"
[David Ironside]
"Of course I'm right." David shoots back at Domino without taking his eyes off the race, until the racers are off anyway. He produces a datapad that allows him to track the racers as they're out of sight in seconds. Offering it to Domino slightly, he smirks. "I shouldn't show off." he replies. "Pod racing and fighting back the Empire are one thing.." They're two things. "..but three would just be too much. I thought Sion would've been here, honestly, but I guess she missed the deadline, now I gotta sit here and support Nerys and Muri." he explains with a slight shrug. Holding the datapad in one hand, his other raises the cup to his mouth for a drink.
[Elrych Cometburn]
"Well if there's only three of them doesn't that mean they all get paid?" Elrych asks, tilting the bucket so Vhe can grabs some of those Popped Kernels he managed to get. Though, he has to lean back when she leans over, waving her hands to get the attention of the food attendant with the fruit and spun sugar. "Spun sugar? Oh man, I havn't had that in aged." He puts two fingers in his mouth and lets out a loud whistle. "Oy... Two... actually make the Four..." Indeed it consuption was a sport.
Looking back to the race his brows raise slightly. "Oh man, she might now want to start out too fast, she might run out of steam for the harder parts of the course." It was a good thing he didn't have money on the race.
[Domino]
Domino ahhhs, "That's a shame. Well I'm glad you here even if you're wrong about showing off." she leans in and whispers, "You should always show off. You look good when you show off." She sits up giving the man back his personal space and fishing out a flask, "Nerys an alright sort, If I hadn't wasted money on a vendor I'd have money on her. If I know Muri was here I'd have worn armor. That woman's a hot mess."
[Lorcan]
Lorcan's speeder didn't halt alike that of the currently second-placed Muri; instead, it started off just great, only to sputter and stall momentarily, potentially a failure with supply to the engine, which sees the two other competitors far ahead in the lead. Once with a tired growl, the bike rushes forward to it's peak speed, the Zabrak casually leans back - dust and sand crashing against his stone-faced countenance. With his kind tolerant to such minor irritance, he reaches for his waist briefly; retrieving a roll of tobacco as if he were on a pleasure yacht. Lifting it towards his cracked lips and diving back into a pouch to rummage through for a lighter; only for the blast of the wind to yank the cigarette out of his mouth. A tugwar appears before him, in the distance; the two leading competitors vying for the first place. The orbs of cinnamon fought against the current of small grains of rock trying to drive him blind, much to his helmetless head.
[Vhe Tenara]
When four spun sugar and fruits are ordered, she can not help but grin. "See this is why I like you," SMOOCH to the cheek. "You are paying right?" She insists with a grin and then sits back, watching as Netep pulls ahead. "I do not know her....well fact of the matter is I know very few people in this galaxy." She admits. She leans forward to get a look at the raise, more food shoved into her mouth. "OH! Look." she says with a hand to cover her face as she talks while eating. "She is pulling head." Swallowing, the Ysanna shakes back her wild hair with a grin forming. "NERYS KEEP IT UP!" Not that the woman can hear her but all those around her can as she gets a few looks for her exuberance. "Its a race? What are you looking at?!"
[Netep Muri]
In the beauty of daybreak ahead, there's a peaceful quality to the sleepy landscape. A quiet before the storm. A small family of skittermice nibbling on the bleached bones of a steelpecker pause suddenly in their crepuscular activities, turning tiny noses to the sky and sending whiskers a'flutter. What moments before was silent and serene is now disturbed by a high-pitched tone, intensifying rapidly. The cluster of rodents disperses in a panic, skittering with such speed as to do their name justice! Those who are too slow are blown viciously about by the blast of ONE.....TWO bikes swooping through.
The few that tumble free of Nerys' wake are soon caught from the opposite side by Netep's. She's gaining.
The Nightfalcon is pressed to its limits while Muri seeks to shorten the gap and it's tough to say which is louder - the repulsors or the MUSIC leaving a tail of heavy beats behind. It's not the fastest model on the market, but what it lacks in speed, it makes up for in maneuverability. Also, its rider is indeed a hot, careless mess. Like this!
Muri banks hard to the left and rolls it 45 degrees, skirting the edge of a wreck half sunk into the ominous stretch of hungry sand. By the time she's whipped it upright again, she's come up on Nerys' other side.
[Nubri]
Nubri grins, looking at the Datapad "YES N!" she explains, beaming "You will beat that Guri girl, I bet a credit on you!" she doesn't mention it is mostly as Si, whom she originally wanted to post that ber for, didn't participate. Not that anyone can hear her. Still, she toggles the siren on and off a few times, eyes peeled to the datapad "Go N, go N, go N!"
[Nairi]
The third and final round as the swoops pull out of the sinking sands and head into a narrow canyon, maybe 1 km across, filled with jagged pillars of sand-coloured rock. Pretty, and deadly to an inattentie swoop rider. It is beginning to get hotter even under the awning and Nairi pulls out a fan and unfolds it and begins to fan herself. "Come on Nerys," she urges the swoop rider under her breath. After all, she has money riding and nothing is more serious to the banker. "Nerys still in the lead, but Netep Muri is gaining. Lorcan, well, no change there. Let's see how they fare in Rock Tooth Canyon..." the commentator calls out.
[David Ironside]
David smirks. "Promise you won't swoon and I'll take off my jacket." he muses to Domino, grinning as the datapad shows Nerys' speeder scattering a bunch of rodents. "Here, hold this." he says, offering the datapad and his drink to Domino so he can take said jacket off. Sun's out, it's getting kinda hot out here. Underneath the jacket is a simple black short-sleeve shirt with no prints on it. "Oh, did you see that?" David calls as the datapad, even at the slightly greater distance and weird angle show Muri rolling her bike around a wreck. "That was pretty good." he judges.
[Nerys Arda]
Oh lovely. A fine desert canyon, and Nerys descended into it, hugging the side of the expanse in an attempt to catch a cross wind if she could to help her pull back into the lead. Of course, canyons were both wonderful and terrible. Wonderful, for the droid riding in the backseat, who, it was clear, did not have a larynx as he had not blow it out yet, but terrible because how there was a distinct echo as they raced along, "Hold on back there, I see an obstacle ahead. What it was, well, who knew. The sand had long ago claimed it, leaving only years, possibly decades of encrusted sediment jutting out from the canyon floor, the speeder built for two turning nearly into its side as Nerys skirted clear and swooped back around to break into the final leg of the race.
[Domino]
Domino cocks an eyebrow, "That's not fair, Ironside. I'm only mortal. You start strippin I can't be held responsible for what happens." she takes his drink and datapad and holds one the datapad so he can see. She then fishes out a tote unbrella from her haversack, opening it up and giving them both some shade, "I did, that's Sugar Daddy's Girl! Get it, Nerys!" not caring the woman can't hear her.
[Nubri]
Nubri thankfully doesn't see Dave's striptease... else she wouldn't be able to focus on her work due to all that hawtness.. still, there is eardum piercing and a lighshow "GO! GO! GO N! WIN ME TWO CREDITS!" she exclaims
[Lorcan]
Several small tar-black bodies rest in the burning yellow land, as Lorcan's scrap-bike tracks behind the two figures that have by now escaped his sight into the canyon. A trail in the form of rising cloud of the sand that splatters over the roasted fauna, burying them in a shallow grave. The endless obstacles that welcomed Lorcan into the maw of the cave yearning for blood brought him to actually poise himself against the front of the rough seat; taking a gravely serious attitude. Choosing to live to fight another day and being far behind enough already, he shifts on the pedals as he steers clear of rock formations scattered across the narrow passage, the grumble of the engine whining in agony at the maneuvers. A compromise of speed for safety. At last, he emerges from the near-tight grasp of sandstone walls - entering the final push to conclude the Jakku race, his helmet atop his head by that point, should he be actually captured in any live holo-footage.
[Netep Muri]
"C'monc'monc'mon...C'MON!" Netep's bum has left its seat, so eager is the forward lean over her steering console as they drop into the rocky maw. "S'just like navigating an asteroid field," minus the shielding and inertia dampeners, "piece of ch--AAH"
The inbound roar of the race disturbs a nest of ripper raptors and suddenly there are some feathery obstacles flapping and screeching about, because dodging the sedentary crags of sediment weren't challenging enough!
The Nightfalcon veers to the right whilst making an accelerated leap in elevation. Followed by a hard crank of reverse thrusters to counter her forward, breakneck speed juuuuust enough to drop a sudden three meters and skim under an eroded archway without losing her scalp.
For sure felt the breeze on that one though!
A manic peal of laughter devolves rapidly into a whoop and howl when she goes ripping through the last of this doom canyon and rounds the corner for the final straightaway run toward stadium. She's lost too much ground in the canyon and the agile bike between her knees can't be forced into any faster of a sprint. It's performed 'ok' and as a result, she's still alive. Much like any of the EG missions, this marks it as a success, in her book.
Also because she might get to watch Nerys' face turn inside out when the woman takes a swig of the promised, peel-your-esophagus liquor.
[Nairi]
A blast of cannons and blue, green and yellow coloured smoke as the swoops pull into the home stretch and stadium Nairi allows herself a slight smile, the rider she bet on won. She drains her drink and stands then lifts her long dress dress slightly as she passes, another smile at David Ironside as she passes but she clearly doesn't recognise his companion. She hurries down to the finishing stand with a spot for first, second and third where a couple of humans holding a large gold, smaller silver, and even smaller bronze plate stand. The woman converses quickly with them.
[David Ironside]
And it's over. Just like that! Suppose that's the drawback of watching races that go at break-neck speeds, huh? "There, see?" David exclaims. "Told you it was gonna be Muri or Nerys." he nods slightly, standing up and grabbing his jacket. He doesn't slip into it just yet, considering he'd only just taken it off. "Wanna come for a drink?" he adds to Domino, though he gives Nairi a wink in passing. The woman does keep smiling at him after all, and such behavior should be encouraged.
[Nerys Arda]
Maybe Belate did have a larynx after all, because as Nerys' bike approached the finish, the droid behind her was almost eerily silent, though his head was still flung back, either out of enjoyment or simply because his body was not intended to function well in these sorts of circumstances. He was a space droid, darn it! And there was no wind in space. Regardless, as the speeder crossed the finish, and Nerys began to ease back on the throttle, so as not to end up being bucked out of the seat if she hit the brakes too hard, his little head rolled back up, and he began chirping again. "No, I am not picking the sand out of your teeth. You're going into the sonic bath." Nerys glanced back at the droid, "You can sit in there and think about what you've done." But there was a grin in her voice, as the speeder finally came to rest, and she slid off first, tugging at Belate to get him out, though it was clear she was fighting the suction that had formed between the droid and the seat. With a final massive heave, the droid popped free, nearly rocking Nerys off of her feet with the sudden release of force, but Belate was soon rolling off with her as they made their way over towards the winner's stands. "Well flown," she called to her fellow competitors, once they were close enough to hear her over the shouting of the crowd.
[Nubri]
Nubri climbs out of her truck... time to get food. She flashes Nerys a grin and a thumbsup as she sees her, heading to the concessions. Her work is done
[Domino]
Domino hesitates and glances over towards Nairi, "Actually, why don't you go make friends with the hostess of this fine event. She's someone you'll want to be friends with-trust me. Up and comer that one." She waggles eyebrows, "But if there's time after and you want to catch up I'd love to."
[Lorcan]
With a squeal through the pierced air, Lorcan's rusty rental deaccelerates; steering for the finish-line with a steady hold of the pedals under the hard nylon soles of his boots. Reducing the engine's supply of fuel with the gloved palms over the handlebars, the Zabrak arrives a good while after the other two competitors, being nowhere capable of catching up in realistic terms, even if relatively the distance may not seem as much at first glance. Taking up the last place, the throttle declines rapidly with the momentum wearing off, finally activating the brakes which bring him to a halt. Exhaling muffled under the helmet, he slowly removes it from atop his bald scalp, clipping it to his waist, the towering head of horns turning to glance over the gestures from the winner, a subtle nod offered in respect. Swinging his feet over the side of the bike, he drops to his feet, stretching his broad, armored back.
[Netep Muri]
"No," Muri rebuffs an approaching mech after she's slid off the Nightfalcon's saddle. Both hands work to free the helmet from her head but don't bother to fix the hairy mess tha explodes when it comes off. It's fine. She shoves a palm through the tangled mop to clear a visual runway and elaborates on the afore uttere "No, it's mine, I got it. Just needs a little cleaning an' some polish, right as new."
The expression on the Dressellian's face suggests they have a differing oppinion regarding the swoop's TLC, but Netep left the site of argument to jog on over to the ceremonial finishing stand. "Bit much for a small race, hey?" she answers Nerys and flashes their Zabrak competitor a little nod an open-handed salute like a stationary wave. "Powder cannons an' all." Namely though, she's eyeing the lil platform with a tiny smirk. "But if we're gettin somethin shiny to wear, you bet I'll try its effects on the next piece of eye candy I spy." Especially after a few drinks. "I'm concocting the tale now - " her voice adopts a dramatic flare "death-defying plummets through the ravenous jaws of rock tooth canyon, attacks from vicious ripper raptors..."
[Nairi]
A fanfare plays over the tannoy system as the commentator announces the results. Nairi smiles warmly at Netep Muri and Nerys as they approach the finishing stand, "Congratulations," she says just loud enough to hear over the noise in the stand. Her accent is cut-glass New Republic elite. She looks past them for the Zabrak, a slight frown furrowing her brow and then gestures at the first and second places. "Please," she says.
[Lorcan]
Obediently enough to the host; the Zabrak approaches the post dedicated to his result - a third place.
[Nubri]
Nubri blinks, seeing Dave and a 'stranger', waving at them "Davik? What are you doing here?"
[David Ironside]
David tilts his head towards Domino, but shrugs. "I -want- to be friends with the corporate suits?" he questions, though he does pay attention to the awards ceremony. Which is when Nubri calls out a name that isn't his, but she's called him that for as long as he cares to remember. "It's David. And I was watching the race. What are you doing here?" he asks in return. Strange question. David quickly drains his beverage and discards the cup in a waste bin, then hooks his thumbs in the pockets of his pants. "Was that your truck?"
[Domino]
Domino spots Lorcan and her lips curve into a smirk, "You do this one. Trust me. OH-don't mention me though. It won't go well." She pats David's shoulder, "I'll catch up with you later, stud. Go meet that pretty lady who likes fast things, I'm gonna say hi to the guy riding the junk bucket once the ceremony's done."
[Nerys Arda]
Nerys, once she had reached Nairi, and the woman indicated the place on the podium, took a moment to pull off her helmet. Somehow, her pig tails were both intact and unnaturally perfect. "Thank you. It was quite an experience." Her own accent was Corellian, but with a lilt and timbre that was all high society. Not at all the sort of Corellian accent that was prevalent in the galaxy. "I don't think you need something shiny to wear after a performance like that, Muri," was Nerys' humoured comment to Netep, as she took her place on the podium. "But it can't hurt."
[Nubri]
Nubri nods "Yes.... wasn't that good of an idea in hindsight with the horns, maybe. Had no idea they would be this loud." she explains "Also, hi Dom! Fun race, wasn't it?"
[Netep Muri]
"Such an honor," Muri puts her linguistic talent on the stand with a brief vocal mimicry of the Core elite, which contrasts sharply with the backwater, outer rim spacer drawl that follows - a bastardized blend of two accents fighting for control of her tongue. "S'been a barvy long stretch since got t'push this girl's engine, hey? Damn near farkled 'er but ain't a corpse show standin here, thanks be to Judges Four." Punctuated by a wink from a perfectly normal, human eyelid w/green lashes aaaand a fleshy membrane that flashes beneath it.
[Lorcan]
"Nice stuff. Thanks." - a murmur only emerged the Zabrak as within the least prestigious of the podiums, his gloved palm merely shifted for his belt-pouch, shuffling through as he'd retrieve another wrap of paper around carababba tabac, casually placing it within his cracked dark pink lips; another hand flicking out a traditional silver-plated zippo-lighter shining in the blazing Sun. As a flicker of a flame sets the roll alight, a pungant scent lifts into the nearby air with a cloud of grey smoke. The mercenary falls silent, biding his time to finally step out of the public's intrusive eye.
[Nairi]
"That's good, yeeees?" Nairi questions and turns her head to one side, playing up her inability to understand spacer slang. "Anyway, she says briskly, and takes the ornately carved gold-coloured metal plate that is around 30cm wide and presents it to Nerys Arda. "For winning first place in Enki Entertainment's Jakku Swoop Race, congratulations Nerys Arda!" She hands the plate to Nerys then picks the silver-coloured 20cm wide ornate plate and hands it to Netep Muri, "For winning second place in Enki Entertainment's Jakku Swoop Race, congratulations Netep Muri." Next it is Lorcan's turn, and Nairi presents him with the bronze plate, "For winning third place in Enki Entertainment's Jakku Swoop Race, congratulations Lorcan."
